Early January Storm Recap | Park City, UT

Coming up for air after 12 days of powder, I wanted to put the most recent storm cycle in perspective. Or just reminisce for personal enjoyment. Either way. From January 2nd, when the Park City ridgeline started getting pounded with snow, until January 13th, when the sun finally reappeared, it “snowed like it used to.” What does that mean? Take a look at Deer Valley’s snow totals over this 12-day period:
Snow totals displayed in inches. Data courtesy of On Th...

Life is Better with Integration

We've all been there: you're out having a great day on the mountain, riding hard, hiking peaks, and carving pow. Then, you get a little warm and all of the sudden you're in a fog-induced haze that has you stumbling around the mountain like a gorilla in a china shop. If you're like me, you think this is one of the most frustrating spots to find yourself in. You can't wipe the fog out of your lenses for fear of scratching your expensive eyewear, so your only option is to pul...

How to Ski Deer Valley

Deer Valley opens this weekend – Saturday, December 3, 2016. In honor of the occasion, we wanted to share some thoughts on how to make the most of your time on the hill. With three Deer Valley locations, our staff here at Jans consists of some seasoned and loyal DV skiers. Case in point: Jans Deer Valley at Snow Park Hardgoods Manager, Ramsey Moore. Born and raised in Park City, Ramsey has been skiing Deer Valley regularly for 22 years. That’s a lot of time to learn the nuance...

MIPS Helmet Technology

Raising kids in the mountains means that skiing is part of their life from a young age. My twins started when they were four years old, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I was the mama bear who skied with her poles outstretched to create a human shield around my tiny tots snowplowing in front of me. I was worried that another skier or snowboarder could clobber my kids at any second. And even though they're teenagers now, I still have the innate need to protect them and keep them safe....

Utah Multi-Sport Days

Spring has most definitely sprung. The snowpack is shrinking, the grass is starting to green and the aspen trees are budding. We have one foot in winter, in a ski or snowboard boot, and one foot stepping towards summer. In Utah, that means even more options for outdoor activities than usual. You can enjoy a day of skiing in the morning and ride your bike or go climbing in the afternoon. Ahh, variety is certainly the spice of life. To help you prepare for the bevy of sports available at th...

How to Make the Most of Spring Skiing!

You are going spring skiing and I bet you're pretty excited! Spring skiing means lots of sunshine and lots of fun. The groomers are fantastic, the temperatures are warm, and the winter crowds have thinned. Spring skiing presents a unique time to relish the last few weeks of winter. However, there are a couple of things to know in order to do it right. “Spring skiing means the snowpack has a higher water content, especially later in the day.” Time and Place While th...

Full disclosure – this video is not a “how-to” ski tuning tutorial. It is also long, highly technical, and cuts out before the clinic ends. So what exactly is this video? It’s an open-forum Q&A with Alex Martin, ski tech for Ted Ligety. It’s a fascinating demonstration of prepping race skis for World Cup competition. And if nothing else, it’s a rare opportunity to bask in the glory of a master ski tech chatting casually about race skis…with a...

How to Stay Warm While Skiing

Skiing or snowboarding can be incredibly fun - as long as you are dressed for success. Cold can kill a winter adventure and turn a great day into a suffer-fest. It's important that you know how to dress properly so you can enjoy your time in the snow, whether you are in the mountains or digging out of your neighborhood. Using a head-to-toe layering system can keep you comfortable throughout a day of activity and gives you the ability to adjust your layers based on your temperature and act...

Jans Ultimate Powder Day Sweepstakes | 2015 Recap

The 2016 Jans Ultimate Powder Day Sweepstakes has begun. In case you needed a little extra incentive to enter, let us recap last year’s prize package for you. Sweepstakes winner, Dan Kirk, pulled an all-time bro favor – choosing his buddy, Dane Taylor, as his weekend +1. Both Dan and Dane spent a day skiing untouched lines at Thousand Peaks Ranch with Park City Powder Cats & Heli-Ski, were put up for two nights courtesy of Park City Lodging, and received head-to-toe gear f...

Why Bogner? Luxe Men's & Women's Ski Jackets with Style

As an outdoor retailer based in Park City, Utah, the buyers at Jans have more than their fair share of ski apparel brands to choose from when stocking our stores. So how do we decide which brands to sell? Specifically the iconic and, if we're being totally honest, pricey Bogner ski jackets and pants? Read on to find out why Bogner Sport and Jans have been partners for years, and why we chose to carry their products in the first place. “While most ski apparel is mass-produced at ...

Must-Have GoPro Accessories for Skiing

Whether you're creating the newest YouTube POV video sensation or are just trying to make some memories on this winter's ski trip, it's necessary to have the proper accessories for your GoPro camera to make it happen. GoPro has created an immense array of tools to help you, but that results in the challenging feat of picking the right ones. Through watching countless POV videos and my own trial and error, I've discovered a few must-have GoPro accessories that reign supreme. ...

The Building of One Park City

New Beginnings in Park City Last year we weren't even sure if Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) was going to open. The ongoing litigation between Vail Resorts and the previous owner, Powdr Corp, had the ski resort, and even the town itself, in a sea of uncertainty. “Yes, the times are a changin' in Park City. I am personally happy that with one lift pass I'll be able to access 7,300 acres of world-class ski terrain with ease.” Eventually, the lawsuit was set...

Skiing Pioneers - Jans' Founder Shares a Bit of Family History

The members of our family were early pioneers in the sport of skiing in the state of Utah. My father and mother skied the Wasatch Range before there were any resorts, and that experience was passed onto my brothers and me at an early age. “Dad would give us $5, which covered both of our ski passes and lunch for the day.” The Cost of Skiing My dad became director of the ski patrol at Alta in the early days of that resort. He was also one of the original investors who he...

Marmot Origins X Ski Jacket Review

Expert Review While I’ve used Marmot packs, sleeping bags, and rain gear for years now, the ski apparel was never something I had ever considered. Whether it was their mountaineering vibe, or popularity among middle-aged men, Marmot ski gear didn’t meet the “cool” factor that I (ironically) demanded from my outerwear. In a way, it’s exactly that bias that made me a reliable reviewer of the Marmot Origins X ski jacket. More than just uninformed ab...

Smith I/O7 Goggles Review

Expert Review Seven years ago Smith Optics came out with the I/O ski and snowboard goggle. The revolutionary design started the rimless goggle trend and showed just how easy it could be to adapt a single goggle to different light conditions by using a simple interchangeable lens interface. The I/O was comfortable, integrated extremely well with Smith helmets, and over the years, came in different sizes, like the IOS and the IOX, for smaller and bigger faces. But this year Smith u...

Marmot Alpinist Jacket Review

We no longer have the Alpinist jacket in stock. However, we carry a number of men's technical shells with updated GORE-TEX fabric and other similar features. Expert Review In 1971, two students at the University of California, Santa Cruz started the Marmot Club. To become a Marmot, you had to climb a glaciated peak with an existing member of the club. As such, the members of the Marmot Club needed gear to help them satisfy their lust for the mountains. And over the next t...

Shred Stupefy Ski Goggle Review

Expert Review There is no region quite as demanding on ski goggles as the precipitation-heavy Pacific Northwest. During the summer months especially, when dense clouds roll in from the Pacific Ocean and settle wet and heavy in the mountains, goggles are put through the wringer. With year-round skiing thanks to the Palmer Glacier, Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood has become a favorite place of ours to test ski gear before the upcoming season. This past summer we were lucky enoug...

Jans Park City Mountain Locations

There is a buzz in the air right now. You can hear snow guns in the background blasting out a base, even if it is "just" man-made. The resort centers are filling up with managers, instructors, and other employees. Boxes of new product are being dropped off, display racks oriented, and shift beers are being cracked at the end of long days. While the 2014/15 ski season has officially begun, there are plenty of people behind the scenes finishing up before the Thanksgiving and Christmas...

Ski Season Checklist

It's that time of year when all you can think about is new skis, the snow forecast, and when your local mountain will open. But being ready for the big day takes a little planning. Have you ever gotten to the resort and forgotten your gloves, your boots, or even your skis? With a pre-season checklist and our expert tips, I will try and limit your "oops" moments so that all you need to worry about is where to go to make some turns. 1. Gather all your gear into one place. ...

Founder of Jans Inducted into Park City Ski Team Hall of Fame

Back in the day, Jan Peterson was a darn good ski racer. When his eldest daughter, Andrea, followed in his footsteps, Jan had the realization that ski racing could be cost prohibitive to young kids who want to give it a try, so he took it upon himself to help young racers in the Park City community have affordable access to ski equipment. Together with some friends, Jan created an annual event known as the Jans Winter Welcome to raise money for junior athletes on the Park City Ski Team. That ...